We have no shortage of great state parks in Georgia, so many that it's almost overwhelming to try to explore them all. I've been making a point to try to spend more time outside, and one park that ranked pretty highly on my to-do list is Watson Mill Bridge State Park. This 1,018-acre park is in the tiny town of Comer, about half an hour outside of Athens. I've been there before and remember enjoying it a lot, but it had been several years since my last visit, and I definitely wanted to return. The park offers plenty of recreational opportunities, including canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, swimming, and sightseeing, and there's even a campground for overnight stays. It's a perfect getaway for families, couples, or solo travelers - basically, anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors can find something to love about this great park!

My name is Lisa, and I write for Connecticut, Georgia, and Kansas here at OnlyInYourState. I was born and raised in Georgia and am lucky enough to still call the Peach State home today. I love getting out and exploring all that this great state has to offer. There is honestly so much to do and see in Georgia that it feels like it could take a lifetime! Welcome to OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers, a series of travel articles from local experts exploring their own backyards — and beyond. 

There are several parking lots at Watson Mill Bridge State Park, so you should have no trouble finding a spot, even on a busier day. I arrived pretty early, and the park was virtually empty.

Admission is free, and parking is just $5 per car. If you'd like to spend some time on the water, there are plenty of access points not far from the parking lot, with kayaks available for rental from the main office.

There were a few picnic tables near the parking lot right by the water - it'd be a perfect spot for al fresco dining.

One of the first things you'll see upon entering the park is the covered bridge that shares the park's name. The 229-foot bridge was constructed in 1885.

There were once more than 200 covered bridges in Georgia, and only 20 remain today. This one is the longest existing covered bridge in the state.

The one-lane bridge is open to both foot and vehicular traffic. The parking lot I parked in was on the opposite side of most of the park's attractions, so I got to walk through it, which was a neat experience.

I was surprised how much cooler it was inside the bridge than out - it was a good 20 degrees chillier. The views through the lattice were lovely, but I couldn't stop very long to enjoy them since it would have blocked cars from getting through.

Once you're over the bridge, you can get a great view of it. There's a beautiful little waterfall, and it's quite scenic any time of year.

On a hot summer day, you'll find many families playing on the rocks in the water.

It's pretty shallow and great for kids (and dogs!), though you should definitely wear water shoes, as some of the rocks are pretty sharp.

I was visiting with Ringo, a hyperactive dog who was excited to get to explore the trails.

Dogs are allowed on all the trails at Watson Mill Creek State Park except for the horse trail, as long as they're on a six-foot leash.

We started on the purple-blazed trail that loops around this section of the park. The trail was well-maintained and very easy to follow.

We passed through tons of greenery and followed along the river for most of the trail, which provided a lovely soundtrack.

A few of the areas on the trail had some tree roots on the ground, but overall it was a very easy, pleasant trail that felt like a nice walk in the park. There were plenty of flat sections where we could jog some.

The trail had several adorable little bridges crossing over ditches and streams, so I didn't even have to worry about getting my feet wet.

There were benches and a few fallen trees where you could stop to rest every so often.

I love animals and kept my eyes peeled for any critters out and about - surprisingly, all I saw was this American giant millipede, but he was quite an impressive specimen!

I didn't stop by the campground since I was just visiting for a day trip, but the park has a great area for overnight stays that's open year-round.

There are tent and RV sites available, plus a few log cabins for rent.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time hiking at Watson Mill Bridge State Park and can't wait to come back to explore some of the other trails here!

Have you ever visited Watson Mill Bridge State Park in Georgia? Or do you have another favorite park in Georgia you think we should feature? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

To discover more incredible boots-on-the-ground adventures across America from our team of local travel experts, check out all of the articles in OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers series. What destinations would you like to see featured next? Tell us where we should go on our nominations page.